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CHARTER 



BY-LAWS 



OF THE 



MARYLAND SCHOOL 



FOR THE BLIND. 



WILLIAflSf 
&WILKINS5 
COMPAWY/7 



BALTinOREI 
FORMERLY 
J NO. H. WILLIAMS COMPANY 
36 S. CALVERT STREET 






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36044 







APR 27 1906 



CHARTER. 



AN ACT 

— TO — 

INCORPORATE THE MARYLAND INSTITUTION 
FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE BLIND. 



Passed May 19th, 1853. 



Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That J. Smith Hollins, Jacob I. Cohen, Jr., John N. Mcjilton, John 
Glenn, William George Baker and Benjamin F. Newcomer, and such 
other persons as shall become members of the Institution hereby 
created, and their successors, be, and they are hereby created a cor- 
poration, by the name of The Maryland Institution for the Instruc- 
tion of the Blind, and by that name may sue and be sued, answer 
and defend in any court of law or equity, and may ordain and estab- 
lish such by-laws, rules and regulations as shall appear necessary or 
proper for conducting the concerns of said corporation, and shall 
not be contrary to law, and the same to alter and renew at pleasure, 
and may have and use, and at pleasure change, a common seal, and 
generally may do any act or thing necessary or proper to carry into 
effect the provisions of this act and to promote the design of the cor- 
poration. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the object of said cor- 
poration shall be the instruction of the blind. 

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation 
shall have the power of receiving donations, subscriptions, devises 
and legacies of real or personal estate and money, and to purchase 
and hold real and personal property, in trust or otherwise, for the 
promotion of the objects of the corporation. 

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Board of Directors 
shall consist of nine persons, who shall be elected annually by the 
corporate members of said institution, on the first Monday of Janu- 
ary; but in case no election shall then take place, the directors then 
in office shall continue to hold over until a new election shall take 
place; Provided, however, that the nine persons above named be 
and they are hereby constituted the Directors of the Institution, to 
serve until the first annual election. 

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That in case of death, resig- 
nation or removal from the State, of any of said Directors, the re- 
maining Directors shall have the power of filling such vacancies, 
until a new election of the others shall be held by the corporation. 

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act con- 
tained, shall be so construed as to authorize said corporation to 



issue any note, token or other evidence of debt, to be used as cur- 
rency; and the Legislature hereby reserves to itself the right to alter, 
amend or repeal this Act at pleasure. 

Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect 
from the date of its passage. 

AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER. 

Act 1.854. Chapter 67. 

An Act to amend the charter of the Maryland Institution for 
the Instruction of the Blind, passed at January session, 1853. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That the Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, is 
hereby authorized to increase its Board of Directors to a number 
not exceeding eighteen persons. 

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That the present Board of Directors 
shall have the power of electing additional members of the Board 
to serve until the next general election. 

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That the Board of Directors be in- 
vested with the same powers and elected in the same manner as 
originally provided for in the charter. 

Sec 4. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from 
the date of its passage. 

Act 1886. Chapter 481. Page 796. 

Section i. Be it e?iacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That section one of an Act passed at January session, 1853, chapter 
203, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Maryland Institution for the 
Instruction of the Blind," be and the same is hereby amended by 
changing the name of said corporation from the Maryland Institution 
for the Instruction of the Blind to "The Maryland School for the 
Blind." 

AMENDMENT TO CODE. 

Acts 1892. Chapter 272. Page 377. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That section 3 of article XXX of the Code of Public General Laws of 
Maryland, title "Deaf, Dumb and Blind, Education of," be and the 
same is hereby repealed and re-enacted, so as to read as follows: 

Sec 3. " A sum not exceeding $21,000 shall be annually appro- 
priated to be applied under the direction of the Governor in plac- 
ing for instruction in the Maryland School for the Blind, formerly 
known as the Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, 
such indigent blind persons of the age of seven years and upwards, 
inhabitants of this State, and -of the county or city from which they 
are recommended, as may be recommended to the Governor by the 
county commissioners of each county or by the judges of the 
Orphans' Court of Baltimore City." 



BY-LAWS. 



CHAPTER I.— Membership. 

Any person who shall pay at any one time a sum of not 
less than Three Dollars, shall become a member for one 
year; and any person who shall pay at any one time a sum 
of not less than Thirty Dollars, or the sum of Ten Dollars, 
in each of four consecutive years, shall become a member 
for life. 

CHAPTER II. — Officers. 

Section i. The Board of Directors shall elect annually 
a President, who shall be chosen from among the members 
of the Board; a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Consulting Phy- 
sician and an -Attending Physician. 

Sec. 2. The President, or in his absence or inability to 
act, such person as shall be designated by the Board, shall 
have the custody of the corporate seal, and shall affix it to 
such instruments as the Board of Directors may require. 

Sec. 3. The Secretary shall take full minutes of the 
doings of the Board, and shall cause them to be fairly re- 
corded in books kept for the purpose. He shall issue notices 
of all meetings, and shall furnish the Chairmen of Commit- 
tees with information of their appointment and duties. 

Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall receive and give receipts 
for all money due and payable to this corporation from any 
source whatever, and shall endorse checks, orders and 
drafts in its name and on its behalf, including Government 
and State vouchers made payable to the order of this cor- 
poration, and, when necessary, shall make and sign drafts 
on the United States Treasurer or other proper officer and 
on the Treasurer of the State of Maryland, as well as upon 
individuals, for any moneys that may be due and payable to 
this corporation, and full discharge for the same shall give. 

He shall keep regular books of account, presenting the 
several sources of income and showing expenditures made 



BY-LAWS. 

by him. His accounts shall always be open to the inspec- 
tion of the Finance Committee, and he shall present to them 
when requested, a summary of his receipts and disburse- 
ments, verified by his deposit book. He shall, moreover, 
prepare and submit to them, in time for examination before 
the stated meeting in October, a full statement of his ac- 
counts for the year ending on the 30th day of June, together 
with an exhibit of the finances of the corporation. 

No money deposited to the credit of this corporation, or 
of the Treasurer thereof, in any bank or other place of de- 
posit, shall be drawn, except on the check or draft of the 
Treasurer, countersigned by the President, or, in his ab- 
sence, by a member of the Finance Committee. 

CHAPTER III —Board of Directors. 

Section i. — The Board of Directors shall meet statedly 
on the Wednesday first succeeding the day of their election, 
and on the first Wednesday of every succeeding month. 

Sec. 2. Special meetings may be called by the Presi- 
dent, or on the written requisition of three members of the 
Board, addressed to the Secretary. 

Sec' 3. Five members shall be a quorum for the trans- 
action of business, but in case of a vacancy or vacancies in 
the Board, a majority of the continuing members of the 
Board shall constitute a quorum. 

Sec. 4. At stated meetings, the order of business shall 
be: 

1 — Chair taken, and names of members present noted. 

2 — Records of last stated and subsequent meetings read. 

3 — Reports and minutes of Standing Committees, read 
and acted on. 

4 — Communications from Superintendent, read and acted 
on. 

5 — Reports of Special Committees, read and acted on. 

6 — Unfinished business. 

7 — New business. 

8 — Minutes of meeting read, and if need be, amended. 



BY-LAWS. 

Sec. 5. — At special meetings, the special matter shall be 
first considered and acted on. 

CHAPTER IV.— Standing Committees. 

Section i. The Board of Directors shall annually ap- 
point a Committee of Admission and Discharge, a Commit- 
tee of Finance, a Committee of Instruction, a Committee on 
Household Affairs and a Committee of Female Visitors. 

Sec. 2. The Committee of Admission and Discharge 
shall consist of three members, of whom two shall be a 
quorum. They shall examine all applications for the admis- 
sion of pupils, and shall certify to the Superintendent such 
as they shall approve. They shall attend to the discharge 
and removal of all those whose term of instruction has ex- 
pired, or who from other causes have ceased to be connected 
with the Institution. 

Sec. 3. The Committee of Finance shall consist of three 
members, of whom two shall be a quorum. They shall 
have the general supervision of the fiscal affairs, and shall 
direct the place of deposit, and make investments under the 
orders of the Board, of the moneys belonging to the Insti- 
tution. They shall inspect and certify the accounts of the 
Treasurer from time to time. On the first Wednesday of 
October they shall present a full statement of the Treasurer's 
accounts, as they stood on the 30th day of June previous, 
examined and certified by them, together with an exhibit of 
the several items of property belonging to the Institution, 
and an estimate of their respective values. 

Sec. 4. The Committee of Instruction shall consist of 
five members, of whom two shall be a quorum. They shall 
have the general supervision of the departments of instruction 
and of the arrangements and distribution of time for study, 
exercise and recreation. They shall inspect the order and 
discipline of the Institution, and shall advise with the Super- 
intendent in relation thereto. All purchases of books, ap- 
paratus, instruments, implements and materials for manufac- 
ture shall be made with their sanction. They shall submit to 



B Y-LA WS. 

the Board for its approval the draft of a report on the 
condition, progress and prospects of the Institution, to be laid 
before the corporators at their annual meeting. 

Sec. 5. The Committee on the Household shall consist 
of five members, of whom two shall be a quorum. They shall 
have the supervision of the domestic arrangements of the 
Institution, and shall see to the preservation of cleanliness, 
comfort, health and economy therein. They shall direct all 
necessary repairs to the buildings and furniture. All pur- 
chases of supplies for the use of the household shall be made 
with their sanction. 

Sec. 6. The Female Visitors shall be nominated by the 
Board at the same time with the Standing Committees of the 
year. They shall be invited to visit the Institution frequently, 
to advise with the Superintendent and Matron on its domestic 
affairs, and to extend to the pupils the benefits of their kindly 
notice and counsel. 

CHAPTER V '. — The Superintendent. 

Section i. The immediate charge and conduct of the 
Institution shall be confided to a Superintendent, who shall 
be elected by the Board, and who shall act under the advice 
and supervision of appropriate Committees. 

Sec. 2. He shall, with the aid of proper attendants, 
conduct the several departments of instruction, maintain 
order and discipline, regulate the domestic economy, and 
direct the management of the works that may be carried on 
in the Institution. 

Sec. 3. All purchases for the current use of the Insti- 
tution shall be made by him ; he shall keep accounts of his ex- 
penditures, and shall exhibit the same monthly, or oftener, if 
requested, to the Committee on the Household. Once in every 
month he shall pay over to the Treasurer all moneys received 
for work done, sales of manufactured goods or materials, and 
donations. He shall take such part in the instruction of the 
pupils as he may deem expedient, under the direction and 



BY-LAWS. 

advice of the Committee of Instruction, or as shall be deter- 
mined by the Board. 

Sec. 4. He shall receive pupils into the Institution on 
the certificate of the appropriate committee, and shall keep a 
register of their names, ages, parents or next friends, and 
residence, with the dates of their admission, and a history, 
as far as practicable, of the causes of their blindness. 

Sec. 5. He shall report to the Board at each stated 
meeting, upon the conduct, studies and progress of the 
pupils, and shall make to them from time to time such other 
communications as he may deem important. 

Sec. 6. He shall, when requested, attend the meetings 
of the Board, and the Committee on Instruction. 

Sec. 7. He shall annually at the first meeting in January 
present to the Board a full report on the condition, progress 
and prospects of the Institution. 

CHAPTER VI.— The Instructors. 

Section i . The Board of Directors shall annually ap- 
point one or more Teachers of Literature and Science, and 
one or more Music Teachers. They shall perform such 
duties as may be assigned them by the Superintendent or 
enjoined by resolutions of the Board. 

Sec. 2. The Committee of Instruction shall appoint 
such assistants and subordinate attendants as may from time 
to time be authorized by the Board. 

CHAPTER VII.— The Household. 

The Board of Directors shall annually appoint a Matron, 
who shall administer the domestic affairs of the Institution, 
under the direction of the Superintendent and the super- 
vision of the Committee on the Household. 

CHAPTER VIII.— Removal of Superintendent. 

The Superintendent, Instructors, Teachers, and all other 
persons appointed by the Board, or by the Superintendent, 
shall be removable at the discretion of the Board ; and all 



BY-LAWS. 

assistants, subordinate attendants, domestics, and other per- 
sons appointed by the Committee of Instruction, shall be 
removable at the discretion of the said committee. 

CHAPTER IX.— The Pupils. 

Section i. Children between the ages of 7 and 18 
years, who are so blind as to be incapable of distinguishing 
the letters of a printed book, may be admitted by the Com- 
mittee of Admission and Discharge. Applications on behalf 
of others shall be referred to the Board for action. 

Sec. 2. The parents or next friends of those in whose 
behalf applications are made for admission as pupils, shall 
m?ke answers in writing to such questions as the Committee 
may prescribe. They shall, moreover, if of sufficient ability, 
engage to pay such reasonable sum for the education and 
support of the pupils, and to furnish them with such proper 
clothing while in the Institution as shall be stipulated by the 
Committee, and they shall, in all cases, be bound to receive 
them back, when required, free of expense to the Institution. 

Sec. 3. The pupils shall board and lodge in the Insti- 
tution. They shall be allowed, under suitable regulations, 
to attend divine worship, at such convenient places as may 
be indicated by their parents or friends ; and they may at 
other times leave the premises, upon occasions, with the 
Superintendent's permission; but they shall at all times re- 
main subject to the control and discipline of the Institution. 

Sec. 4. Pupils who misbehave after admonition, or who 
are found either mentally or physically incapable of receiving 
instruction, shall be discharged by the Board. 

CHAPTER X.— Alteration of By-Laws. 

No by-law shall be altered, amended or repealed, except 
at the annual meeting of the members of the Institution, or 
at a special meeting called for the purpose, or at a stated 
meeting of the Board of Directors — notice of the motion, in 
the latter case, having been given at the previous meeting of 
the Board. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

027 279 922 



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